Page 25 of Merry Mayhem
Everyone straightens in their chairs.
“Aunt Violet is going to be home in time for Merry Mayhem?” Ruth asks excitedly.
That takes the smile off everyone’s face.
I hate that. “No, she needs a few more days in the hospital. But she might be home for Christmas Day. Or soon after. She’s going to be okay,” I say firmly. “I talked to the doctor and the nurses I know on the floor. They say she’s stable and there are no concerns.” I look at her parents. “Of course, you might’ve gotten a more detailed report.”
Bebe nods. “Yes, we were up there this morning and saw the doctor. But he said the same. Things look good. They’re hoping to wake her up the day after tomorrow.”
“But she won’t be ready for things like Mayhem,” Eli says quickly to Ruth. “She’s not going to be up for running around and climbing, and all of that craziness for a while.”
“That makes sense,” Ruth says. “But who are you going to do Mayhem with?” she asks me.
“Oh, I’ll just do it on my own,” I say. “I can handle it.”
“The rules say you have to have a partner,” Ruth says.
Oh. I look around the table. “Really?”
They all nod. “It’s a partner competition,” Eli confirms. “Teams of two.”
“Well, Ruth, what do you say? Wanna be my partner?” I ask.
Ruth is clearly touched and excited by the invitation, but she shakes her head. “I’m not old enough. It has to be somebody eighteen or older.”
“Well, I’m sure I can get somebody from over in Autre.” However, I’m not sure who. They’ll all be busy with Christmas stuff.
“Mom can do it,” Ruth says.
Everyone looks at Thea.
My pulse quickens. I’m not sure why. Just the meresthintof theideaof me and Thea spending some time together? Wow, I’ve never reacted to a woman like this. This is wild.
She’s already shaking her head.
“Oh, no. I’m not… I have to…” But she trails off and then sighs. “Dammit, I can’t come up with an excuse fast enough.”
Everyone around the table laughs.
“You really can do it?” Ruth asks, bouncing on her chair. “You’ve never done it, but you go every year. You know all about it! You’d be so great at it!”
“Especially the cookie eating part,” Thea says, grinning at her daughter.
Ruth laughs. “Yes! But seriously, Mom, that would beso coolif you did it!”
Thea blows out a breath. “My schedule at the clinic actually just cleared out,” she says, obviously a little annoyed by that.
“Clinic?” I ask.
“My mom is a physical therapist in town,” Ruth says. “Everyone wants to go to Merry Mayhem, andnobodywants to go to physical therapy.”
Thea sighs. “It’s true. I’m not busy, and these people would probably be dragging me to all the events anyway,” she says, gesturing around the table.
“And you definitely don’t want Sam to win,” Bruce says.
“And you love eggnog,” Eli says.
I meet her gaze across the table, again feeling that bone-heating effect. “I could definitely use you then. Not a huge fan of eggnog.”
